The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-22
THE LUNCH COUNTERS.
Some OF the Queer Things to be Wit
messed at Them.


messed at Them.
NEW York, May Enthusiastically some
ordinary, everyday act of humanity stands
for moment in so clear a light that its alb
surdity appears in true colors. 1t is sort
of instantaneous mental photography
which shows things as they are. Who has
not stopped short at such a glimpse of the
foolshness of some common word, the
uglidess Of modern attire, the nonsense of
putting butter ON bread--and a hundred
other Things. It's queer sensation when
you get it. Every now and then some poor
fellow sees his entire existence In such a
light, and then he blows his brains out and
dies laughing. But it needn't be so desper-
ate as that / had the sensation wildly the
other day when stood watching the backs
of about fifty men who were sitting on lit
tie stools in line Their heads were stuck
straight out before them; their elbows were
poked into each others ears and ribs; and
each was destroying his neighbours comfort
in the present and his own in the future, for
the scene was a lunch counter and the time
] u. III. / moralized for a moment and
struggle for q seat, in the course of which
several of the ten communicates were
killed and others severely inJuFed-but got
there just the same after having pushed a
very small man almost into the pocket OF
his neighbor, who was of magnificent pro
portions. Then / called for something |
didn't like because it was ready, and ate 1t
like savage, while a lean and hungry citi-
zen waited for my place with conspicuous
impotence. AS soon as got Off the stool
two men attempted to sit down on it stimuli
taneously and a third took advantage Of
their failure TO take possession
This is the lunch counter OF downtown
New York, which is an established institu-
tion-the palladium of our doctors. IL en-
ables hosts Of men to save twenty minutes
day for business at no greater cost than the
ruin of their stomachs, their dispositions
and their table etiquette. 1t teachers hui
mility and respect for the fifteenth amend
ment The walters in a very much patron
lied establishment down town are covered
by this proyiso and you've got to take what
they bring you, irrespective OF race, color
or previous condition of servitude.n Speak
ing of the fifteenth amendment, there is one
beneficiary of itwho has excited my interest
and admiration. He recognizes very clearly
his superiority 20 the drove he feeds. Like
wise he understands his business The other
day a meek-iooking man asked this person
for roast beef, rare.
'Roast beef, rare" shouted the waiter.
81 don I want it blood rare, explained the
meek man.
"Have that roast blood rare, shouted the
waiter
"But don't want it So" said the visitor,
humbly.
"Well, yer won't git IL So" said the Etho-
plan as he scornfully turned away.
Wherefore put not your faith in special
orders 90 the cook.
In spite Of tho fact that a Fifth avenue
resident is occasionally seen TO eat corned
beef hash with a knife at one of our down
town lunch counters, perhaps ON the whole
the institution is no woTSe than the fashion
able standing feed In its effect upon the
manners and morals Of the present genera
lions But IL the next isn't sadded with all
the physical deformities known TO writer
Of patent medicine circulars IL won't be the
fault OF the lunch counter,
CHARLES w. HooKE.